Director Gauri Shinde’s next, which features an unlikely pair – Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt, will begin in January next year. The film, currently, is in pre-production stage, said Karan Johar whose Dharma productions is co-producing the film with SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment and Hope Productions.
Actress Shruti Haasan, who was in town yesterday to support the audio launch of her father Kamal Haasan’s film Thoongaavanam, has completed her portions in Vedalam, directed by Siruthai Siva, and co-starring Ajithkumar. The teaser of Vedalam was launched at 12 am today, and fans had a field day retweeting hashtags about the film, and Ajith. There were no glimpses of either of the two lead actresses, Shruti Haasan and Lakshmi Menon, in the teaser. (Read our review of the teaser here).
Director Chimbudeven’s Puli starring Vijay, Hansika and Shruti Haasan has surpassed the box-office record set by director SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali in Chennai. Overall, Puli collected Rs.32 crores by October 4 after releasing on October 1, despite cancelled morning shows. Excluding the entertainment tax, which was not waived, Puli has collected Rs.27 crores, out of which, its Chennai collection amounts to Rs.2.85 crores in 4 days. In contrast, Baahubali (Tamil and Telugu) grossed Rs.1.66 crores with 363 shows.
Like Papanasam, director Chimbudeven’s Puli, which released on October 1, did not qualify for a 30% tax exemption despite receiving a ‘U’ certificate. The news will come as a blow to producers PT Selvakumar and Shibu Thameens. This is Puli’s second run-in this week with the income tax department, after last minute raids on October 1 led to the morning shows being cancelled. The tax exemption crew listed a number of reasons for their decision to deny the film a tax exemption.
Puli, made on a far bigger scale, is much grander and stupider, with Tinu Anand playing a saint with Marge Simpson hair and a nameless bloodthirsty demon introducing himself as “a bloodthirsty demon” as if he’s run out of business cards.
While Vijay plays to gallery, veteran Sridevi keeps flitting her eyelids. Nothing more, nothing less. Hansika and Shruti wriggle their bellies, while Sandalwood’s Kiccha Sudeep — sporting piercing blue (contact lens) eye as villain — is a token presence as in Bahubali.
After the bewilderment over the income tax raids and the confusion over whether Puli would release or not, I finally manage to watch the film at the ultimate shrine for movies in Chennai: Sathyam Cinemas.Vijay seems to be talking directly to his ‘Nenjil kudi irukum’ fans when he looks into the camera and delivers lines like “Makkalukkaga en uyiraye thyagam seiven” (For my people, I would sacrifice my own life).
Notable scenes are Lilliputs and Vijay comedy portions, Yendi Yendi song, Black Cheetah fight, Sudeep-Vijay fight, Sridevi-Vijay scenes. Comedy works out only in parts. Action sequences are good. No mass scenes for vijay fans.Vijay’s screen presence makes the film a good one time watch.
Playing a princess on screen comes with a bunch of perks, especially for Hansika, who loves to dress up. “I’m a girl. And an actress moreover. So, I love dressing up.But then, it means you never experience the joys and camaraderie of normal college life. Hansika disagrees. “I think I’m lucky.Having to work with an actress of Sridevi’s stature? No, says Hansika.
Director Chimbu Deven’s Puli, which is schedule to release on October 1 in three languages (Tamil, Telugu and Hindi), will be screened in over 3000 theatres worldwide. The advance ticket bookings opened this week and even with special shows, tickets for the week speedily sold out. According to sources, even the Puli team didn’t anticipate such a response, especially from global audiences.
The release of director Chimbu Deven’s Puli may face delays after a petition seeking a stay on the film’s release was filed by director Anbu Rajasekar with the Madras High Court on September 22. The case is scheduled for hearing on September 28. The petition is a follow up to a case filed last year by the director, alleging that director AR Murugadoss, actor Vijay, Ayngaran Karunakaran and Lyca Productions Producer Subashkara had copied the film Dhaaga Bhoomi, which AR Murugadoss subsequently made as Kaththi. Puli is scheduled to release on October 1. According to sources, the director is looking to resolve the Kaththi issue before any subsequent films by the concerned parties can be released.
The trailer of director Chimbudeven’s Puli has received over 101,968 likes on YouTube, surpassing actor Salman Khan’s Hindi film Kick 2. Until now, Kick 2 was in the number 1 spot with 101,855 likes. With over 6 million hits, the Puli trailer seems on course to remain the leader in YouTube popularity. Before the official trailer was released, a leaked version had been circulating on social media.
Director Ramprakash Rayappa next film will feature actor Jiiva and actress Hansika, and is likely to be titled ‘Pokkiri Raja’. A 1982 Tamil film of the same name was directed by legendary director SP Muthuraman and starred Rajinikanth in a double role, as well as Sridevi and Radhika. It’s still unknown whether the team has obtained SP Muthuraman’s permission to use the title.
It’s not good of fans to post obscene and vulgar comments, disguising it in the name of an actor. ” Despite the threats against her, Chinmayi has continued to speak against it, and hopes that things will change.When Dinakaran supplement ‘Vellimalar’ posted a fake interview with her, actress Vidyullekha Raman (Vidyu), who debuted in Gautham Menon’s Neethane En Ponvasantham refused to simply let it slide.
A grand audio release function held for Puli earlier this month in Chennai. Now, the distributors of the Telugu dubbed version of the film have planned to hold a similar function to launch the Telugu audio of the film, in the first week of September. The members of the cast, including Vijay, Shruti Haasan, Hansika Motwani, Sridevi, are expected to attend the event. Sudeep, who gave the Tamil audio launch a miss, is expected to attend the event in Hyderabad.
The release date of director Chimbu Deven’s upcoming film Puli, which was initially September 17, has now been pushed to October 1, confirmed the production house SKT Studios via Twitter.
The trailer of director Chimbudevan’s much awaited film Puli will be launched on August 20. A poster carrying the release date was unveiled yesterday. The team also extended birthday wishes to actress Sridevi. Sridevi was in Chennai yesterday for a quiet celebration with director Chimbudevan, producer PT Selvakumar, and Shibu Thameens.
The unexpected success of the Telugu dubbed version of Jilla, which collected Rs.6 crores in its opening weekend, has given Vijay an opening into the Telugu market. The rights for the Telugu dubbed version of Puli have now been acquired by producer Sobha of SVR Pvt. Ltd. for a large sum. According to a source, Sobha has also asked for the rights of Vijay’s future films. Puli will release in over 1000 theatres across Andhra and Telangana on the day of its Tamil release. Directed by Chimbu Deven, the film also stars Sridevi, Hansika Motwani, Shruti Haasan, and Sudeep.
Reporting by Niveda Manohar; Photos by Dani Charles. Photos from the audio launch are below the report. To accommodate the innumerable Vijay fans, the Puli Audio Launch was held at a resort far from the city, in Mahabalipuram. The ambiance was electrifying, with hundreds of fans wearing white Puli t-shirts like a uniform. At the […]
Following the success of Baahubali, the makers of the Vijay-starrer Puli now plan to release the film in Hindi and Telugu, along with the original Tamil version. According to a Deccan Chronicle report, the Hindi version will be released in 1500 screens, while the Telugu version will be released in 1200 screens in Andhra Pradesh. Producer PT Selvakumar has further confirmed that the film will also be released in China and Japan.
Report by Janani K The Puli press meet revealed little despite a barrage of curious questions. Was the film based on a time-machine concept? Does the title ‘Puli’ have anything to do with the Chola dynasty? The team was careful to say almost nothing about the actual story. What we do know is that Puli […]
Superstar Mahesh Babu is said to be one of the chief guests at the audio launch of Vijay-starrer Puli, which will happen in Chennai on August 2.The source said that Mahesh plans to spend an extra day to be present at the audio launch of Puli.According to a source, Mahesh will soon be in Chennai to release the audio of the Tamil version of Srimanthudu.
Puli stars Vijay, Shruti Haasan, and Hansika in leading roles, and is tipped to be a fantasy adventure film.With the audio of Puli ready to release on August 2, the filmmakers have decided to release a promotional song ‘Yendi Yendi’ on July 24.The song has been sung by two of the leads, Vijay and Shruti Haasan.
Yesterday, actress Shruti Haasan recorded her portions of a romantic duet composed by Devi Sri Prasad, for the fantasy film Puli.Produced by SKT Studios, Puli’s cast includes Vijay, Shruti Haasan, Hansika, Sridevi Boney Kapoor, Nandita, Sudeep, and Prabhu.
SKT Studios has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime department over leaked posters of the Vijay-starrer Puli, which they are financing. Director Chimbudevan stated at a press meet yesterday that the leaked posters had been designed by Tuney John. The designer had been hired initially, but due to delays from his end, had been replaced with a different designer.